Ahead
of reciting the Easter Marian hymn, Regina Caeli, for the last time
this year on Pentecost Sunday, Pope Francis had a special message for
the estimated 200 thousand men, women and children gathered before for
him in St. Peter’s Square and stretching back right to the banks of the
Tiber. He told them; “You are a gift and a treasure for the Church”.
The vast majority gathered to the Vatican
Sunday morning were members of the New Movements and Ecclesial
Communities – all formed by lay Catholics - that the Pope had convoked
to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost together with him, as part of the
Year of Faith.
The Feast which falls 50 days after Easter,
marks the end of the Easter season. It commemorates Christ’s sending
the Holy Spirit down upon his Apostles in the Upper Room and the birth
of the Church.
Speaking from the raised altar in front of St
Peter’s basilica, where he had celebrated Mass for the Feast, before
imparting his final blessing Pope Francis said:
“Dear brothers and sisters,
this
celebration of faith, which began yesterday with the Vigil and
culminated in the Eucharist this morning is about to end. A new
Pentecost has transformed St. Peter's Square into an open-air Upper
Room. We have relived the experience of the early Church, who gathered
in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus (cf. Acts 1:14). We, too, in
the variety of our charisms, have experienced the beauty of the unity,
of being One. And this is the work of the Holy Spirit, who always
creates unity anew in the Church.
I would like to thank all the
Movements, Associations, Communities and Ecclesial groups. You are a
gift and a treasure for the Church! This is what you are! I particularly
thank all of you who have come to Rome from many parts of the world.
Always bring with you the power of the Gospel! Do not be afraid! Always
have joy and passion for communion in the Church! May the Risen Lord be
with you always and Our Lady protect you!
Let us remember in
prayer the people of Emilia Romagna, who on 20 May last year were
affected by an earthquake. I also pray for the Italian Federation of
Voluntary Associations in Oncology”.
Pope Francis then stepped
away from the altar, moving to the left of the basilica façade, where
the icon of Our Lady, dearly beloved of the Roman faithful Salus populi romani, was
enthroned. There he reached out and placed a hand upon the icon as the
Regina Caeli rang out across the ocean of faithful marking the end of
Easter time. As of Monday the Church enters Ordinary Time.
But
not without one last word from Pope Francis. Before once again touring
through the throng in his open topped jeep, all the way down to Via
della Conciliazione, the Pope bid everyone goodbye in his own way:
“Brothers and sisters, thank you so much for your love for the Church!
Have a good Sunday, a blessed feast day and a good lunch!